Bag packaging device



Sept. 17, 1968 D. JAHNKE BAG PACKAGING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27. 1964 INVENTOR. DON/1L0 J-AHNKE WMW A r TOENEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1964 INVENTOR. D o/v/uo .TA HNKE A TTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1968 D. JAHNKE BAG PACKAGING DEV ICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 27, 1964 'lli! INVENTOR. D ONA LD J'HHNKE wan MW Arron/vars Sept. 17, 1968 D. JAHNKE 3,401,499

BAG PACKAGING DEVICE Filed July 27, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VE N TOR. DONALD L/HHNKE.

r47 7 ORNEVJ United States Patent 3,401,499 BAG PACKAGING DEVICE Donald Jahnke, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Hydrahone Equipment Division of John Mohr & Sons, Milwaukee,

Wis.

Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 336,115 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-112) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Bag sealing apparatus for use with a vertically disposed magazine containing a plurality of stacked, Oshaped clips. The apparatus has jaw means movable from a position underlying the magazine to a position adjacent to a bag supporting station so that, when a bag neck is positioned within a clip, the jaw means is actuated to close the clip about the bag neck, thus sealing the bag. The bag neck is cut to remove excess material and clips are fed one at a time into the jaw means for each cycle of operation. Means is provided to twist the neck of the bag and to force the twisted neck into the open clip. The various functions are sequenced so that automatic operation is achieved.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the packaging and sealing of a wide variety of bagged contents including liquids, semi-solids, and solids such as food stuffs and the like. More particularly, improvements are taught which facilitate such packaging where the bag container is twisted and sealed off by means of a substantially C-shaped clip or the like.

Various apparatus and methods are available on the market today for clip sealing a plastic or similar type bag within which generally solid contents such as food stuffs, for example dressed poultry, have been placed. However, recent advances in packaging technology have made the use of bags fabricated from plastic materials and the like available for the containment of liquids such as milk, Water, petroleum products, and the like.

A particular problem in respect to the bagging of liquids using certain plastic materials is that the usual heat sealing technique to form the sides of the bag itself have been found unsuitable for sealing the top of the bag after filling. In recent experiments that I have conducted toward the solution of this problem, unexpected success has been achieved by sealing a bag containing a liquid using the mechanical technique of applying a C-shaped clip.

Other problems, however, arise when clip sealing bags containing liquids and certain solid or semi-solid materials. For example, in using conventional bag sealing equipment, the steps of closing and sealing the filled bag are usually performed by having the operator physically manipulate the bag to an operating position relative to a clip fastening device whereat the metal clip is applied to the neck of the bag. This is ordinarily necessary because the clip sealing devices with which I am familiar are of substantial mechanical bulk and usually anchored in a fixed position relative to the bags to be sealed so that a filled bag is normally required to be brought into or near the clip sealing device. In the case of liquids in an open or unsealed bag such handling and moving is impractical, and in the case of solid and semi-solid materials may involve cumbersome and difficult heavy handling. For general teachings in the art of bag packaging see the US. Patent to Ine et al. No. 2,907,494.

Moreover, conventional techniques of bag sealing as described above, which involve substantial handling of the bags by operators, are not entirely compatible with fast production line techniques and output. As will more fully appear, the present invention may be installed in a 'ice production line operation of a type where the bags to be sealed can be moved in a continuous line of movement and whereby the clip fastening device of the present invention can be operated to fasten clips to the bags without diverting the latter from such line of movement. It is an object of my invention to teach improvements in bag packaging machines including a reciprocally propelled and slidable carriage for movement between a region where a sealing clip is clamped on the closed neck of a bag with contents. By attaching a clip closing device, such as that shown in Ine et al. US. Patent No. 2,977,600, referred to later, on a reciprocally propelled carriage, the bag may be sealed and the clip sealing mechanism propelled therefrom leaving the bag. free for continuous production line movement with a minimum of slow down or handling by the operator.

A feature and an advantage arising from the slidable clip fastening arrangement mentioned above is that bags that are filled with a liquid material, and preferably not moved prior to sealing, may be sealed by such an arrangement at the point of filling. After sealing, the clip closing mechanism may be retracted away from the filled bag to permit movement away from the turntable.

It is also an object of this invention to teach further improvements in the bag packaging machine art combining the reciprocally and horizontally slidable carriage with a remotely located turntable. The remote turntable is designed to hold the bag so that liquid contents may be deposited therein or, in the case where the bag contains solid or semi-solid materials, air may be evacuated therefrom. After filling or air evacuating the bag, the turntable may be rotated thus twisting the bag neck shutv At the same time, the carriage and clip closing mechanism is propelled to the bag sealing position for applying the clip to the neck of the bag to seal the latter.

Another object of this invention is to provide an integral machine having a reciprocating carriage for performing the clip sealing operation and capable of being propelled between the clip sealing turntable region and a remote clip receiving position by means of sequenced controls. The sequenced controls may be integrated with the machine to fully automate the various mechanical steps of bag twisting, clip sealing, .and, if desired, bag trimming above the sealing clip. Afterwards, the carriage may also be retracted automatically to permit further movement of the sealed bag.

A feature and an advantage of this invention when such steps as those enumerated above are automated is that not only are liquid materials more easily handled, but for any type of bag packaging the physical demands made upon the operator are minimized.

Another object of this invention is to utilize known clip hopper and feeder mechanisms, such as those shown in the US. Patent to Inc et al., No. 2,907,494, further referred to hereinafter, in combination with a novel sliding reed and rod arrangement. The sliding rod and reed extension are designed and positioned to restrain discharge of a clip from the clip magazine except when the carriage and clip-closing mechanism are in the clip receiving region of the machine. Moreover, the reed like extension of the rod is shaped to separate one discharged clip from those residing in the clip magazine above it upon initiation of a new bag sealing cycle by the operator.

Another feature of this invention is that a cutting device may be incorporated with my novel combination of carrier and clip-closing device. The cutter is automatically actuated in sequence with the operations of bag twisting and sealing to-cut off any excess of the sealed bag immediately above the clip clamped about the neck thereof.

Other numerous objects, features and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specifications and reference to the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the various views.

Turning now to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation of my improved apparatus for clip sealing bags having contents therein with certain unimportant structural portions cut away and with the clip closing device, which is known in the art, omitted or purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic flow diagram showing the various pneumatic interconnections of the components shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the clip closing mechanism in an open condition.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the clip closing mechanism in a closed condition.

This invention embodies apparatus for sealing a bag and its contents, which may be of either a liquid or solid nature, by means of a C-shaped clip or the like which is clamped about the twisted neck of the bag by a clip fastener mounted on a carriage that is propelled reciprocally and horizontally on a frame between a rotatable table designed to hold the bag and its contents and a magazine which deposits one clip at a time on the carriage for sealing the bags. A device which may be employed to introduce liquid into the bag or evacuate air from the bag and its contents, where solid materials are bagged and such evacuation is desired, is provided in the region of the rotatable table. When the table is rotated, it twists the neck of a bag to close off fluid communication with the outside prior to sealing with a clip. The apparatus also embodies a movable blade mounted on the carriage to cut off excess bag material above the clip on the bag neck where the bag has been scaled. When the carriage portion of the apparatus is propelled away from the rotatable table to receive another clip for subsequent bag sealing, the sealed bag on the table is left clear of the clip closing machinery and may be moved away, a subsequent unsealed bag may be placed on the turntable, and the above process repeated.

The invention is best understood by first referring to FIGURE 1, wherein a hopper and clip feeding device of a type similar to that shown in the US. Patent to Ine et al., No. 2,907,494, is generally indicated at A and an automatic clip fastening device of the type similar to that shown in the Patent to Inc et al., No. 2,977,600 is generally indicated at B. The hopper and clip feeding device are supported on a substantially fixed frame indicated at C to which there is also secured carriage support shafts 12. The frame and carriage support shafts are in fixed relationship to a turntable assembly indicated generally erally indicated at B, The hopper and clip feeding device may be associated. An external air supply and foot valve assembly for activating my bag clipping apparatus is shown generally at E. Assemblies indicated at D and E and shafts 12 are also indicated at FIGURE 3, a flow diagram explained in greater detail below.

In FIGURE 1 the bottom most portion of the forward and rearward members of the upper magazine shown as part 93 of FIGURE 1 of said US. Patent 2,907,494 are shown and have lower open ends 13 which terminate directly on separating blade or flat reed 14 attached to push rod shaft 16. When the reed is in the position shown in FIGURE 1, i.e. closing off the open ends 13, the C- shaped clips held in stacked oriented position in the upper magazine are prevented from being discharged therefrom. The top of rod 16 is milled fiat to form a continuous surface with the flat upper portion of reed 14. When the entire carriage assembly indicated generally at F, also shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, is propelled along carriage support shafts 12 in a direction indicated by arrow 83a, in a manner to be explained below, the flattened portion of rod 16 comes directly under lower open ends 13 and continues to restrain the clips from discharge.

Carriage support shafts 12 are bolted or otherwise secured to plate center section 18 to which support angles 19 are attached, and the entire assembly is supported by legs 21 resting on the floor indicated at G. Also attached to plate center section 18 is the substantially fixed frame indicated at C to which the hopper, clip feeding device and automatic clip fastening device of the type shown in the 2,907,494 patent are attached.

The movable carriage F on which several elements of my invention are mounted comprises a pair of support castings 22, also seen in FIGURE 2. The support castings are designed to reciprocate horizontally on carriage support shafts 12 with a minimum of frictional resistance; and plate center section 23 is bolted or otherwise secured to each support casting.

Clip fastener air cylinder 26 is attached to plate center section 23 by means of air cylinder support bracket 24, and said air cylinder is provided with a cylinder rod extension attached to push rod shaft 16 to provide motion of the latter in a manner to be explained later. As shown in FIGURE 1, push rod shaft 16 is substantially at the center of its active stroke which may be either in the direction indicated by arrow 26a or 26b. Also attached to plate center section 23 and movable therewith is top plate 27 upon which at one end is mounted the automatic clip fastening device with which rod 16 is associated. For purposes of clarity in the drawings, details of the clip fastening device of Patent 2,907,494 are omitted from FIGURE 1 with the exception of one of the parts I have modified for adaptation to my present invention, namely, the base plate indicated at 28 and referred to below. Further, in FIGS. 4 and 5, clip fastening device 36 mounted on base plate 28 has a plunger 178 and jaws 182 and 183 which are the same numbered components of the last mentioned patent. This is for the purpose of showing their application in my present invention. Rod 168 shown at FIGURE 15 of the 2,977,600 patent to Ine is analogous to my push rod shaft 16 which is linked to the plunger and jaws indicated at 36 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Although my present invention utilizes in part an automatic clip fastening device similar to that taught by the US. Patent to Ine No. 2,977,600, certain modifications and changes are made for adaptation to the present invention. One such modification, referred to above, best noted by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings but also shown in FIGURE 1, is the substitution for the horizontal table 133 of Patent 2,977,600 by my base plate indicated at 28 and attached to top plate 27. The base plate comprises base body 29 and angular guide surfaces 31 which terminate at their intersection with aperture 32. One side of body portion 29 com prises elongate body section 29a to which on its lower surface, is mounted pilot valve 33 whose function and operation is explained in greater detail hereinafter. Mounted on the upper surface of base plate body 29 is bag cutter air cylinder 37 which actuates automaic bag cutter blade 38 toward guard 34 and whose combined operation is explained below. Pilot valve 33 and cylinder 37 are also shown on flow diagram FIGURE 3 to be explained below.

Pivotally attached to the lower surface of body section 29a is bag gathering arm 39 which is linked through arm 41 to clevis 42 of air cylinder 43 mounted on support plate 44 which in turn is secured to plate center section 23. Both arm 39 and cylinder 43 appear in the flow diagram FIGURE 3 explained below.

Centrally located and attached to bottom plate center section 23 is air cylinder front clevis 51 which is pivotally attached to plunger extension 52 of carriage propelling air cylinder 53. The rearward portion of cylinder 53 is pivotally attached to air cylinder rear clevis 54 which is centrally located and secured to the bottom portion of plate center section 18.

The air connections to cylinder 53 are by means of flexible tubing to four-way foot valve 46 at its outlet ports 46a and 46b. External air supply is provided to four-way foot valve 46 through regulator 47, coupling 48, filter 49, and rigid piping 50 to an inlet port on the foot valve which does not appear in the drawings. Pedal 460 is pivotally connected to the four-Way foot valve in a manner that permits foot operation of my invention to be explained below.

To the left of the hopper, automatic clip feeding device and carriage assembly, heretofore described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, is the turntable assembly indicated at D comprising turntable 61 mounted in a conventional manner on a shaft and bearings generally indicated at 62 but not shown in detail in the drawings nor described further herein. Mounted on the shaft upon which the turntable itself is attached, and seen in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3 is gear 63 designed for cooperative engagement with rack 64, which, when moved in the direction of arrow 66, causes rotation of the turntable in the direction indicated by arrow 67. Attached to one end of rack 64 is valve trip 68 designed to depress the plunger stem of pilot valve 71 when the rack has travelled to the end of its stroke. Rack 64 is actuated by means of air cylinder 69 and rod 69a, further explained below. Directly above turntable 61 is nozzle 72 which may be of a type known in the art of conveyor packaging for introducing a liquid into the bag or for evacuating air from a bag already containing solid material such as food stulfs or the like.

As referred to above, FIGURE 3 is a schematic flow diagram of the various valving and piping necessary for the operation of my invention. Initially, contents 73, such as a solid material ready for marketing, is enclosed in plastic bag 74, the latter shown in FIGURE 1, and moved by automatic conveyor or otherwise placed on turntable 61. Where liquid material is to be contained in the bag the procedure described below is followed. The operator manually or otherwise fits the open end of bag 74 over the outlet nozzle of tube 72 whereby, in a manner known in the art of packaging, air is evacuated from the contents of the bag; or liquid contents are communicated through the nozzle into the bag. The operator then depresses foot valve pedal 460 in the direction of arrow which causes supply air to be taken through flexible hose 81 into the inlet port of cylinder 53 which causes plunger 52 to travel outwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 82a and the carriage assembly indicated at F to proceed in the direction of arrow 83a. Concurrently, supply air passes through air hose 84, four-way connector 86, and hence through flexible hose 87, the regulator and filter supply indicated generally at 88, to the shaker pan motor of the hopper and clip feeding device referred to earlier.

At the outset of an operating cycle, the entire carriage assembly indicated at F in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 is completely to the right side of carriage ways 12 as viewed in said figures. In this position, and with no air in air cylinder 26, the spring return mechanism therein acts to retract push rod 16 into .air cylinder 26s housing including that portion of the rod indicated by dimension 102. This causes reed 14, which is attached to the push rod, to be displaced to the right of the clip magazine lower portions 13 thus causing a C-shaped clip to be deposited onto the top surface of the base plate indicated at 28 on that portion directly adiacent to and above aperture 32. The clips have a depth dimension substantially equal to the interval between the top of the base plate and the bottom of the clip magazine so that no more than one clip is thus deposited at a time upon full retraction of reed 14. Upon activation of .air cylinder 53 as explained above, causing the entire carriage assembly indicated at F to move horizontally in the direction indicated by arrow 83a, the forward portion of reed 14 passes between and separates the C-shaped clip deposited on the base plate from those remaining in the clip magazine and closes off the magazines lower portion 13. As reed 14 continues to advance with the carriage assembly, pusher rod 16 passes directly underneath the magazines lower portion, as mentioned earlier, so that C-shaped clips stored in the upper portion of said magazine are restrained from further downward motion. As the carriage assembly approaches the end of its travel in the direction indicated by arrow 83a, the activating finger on pilot valve 89 comes into contact with valve trip 91 mounted on valve trip support bracket 92 which in turn is secured to the furthermost outer end of one of carriage support shafts v12. When valve trip 91 engages the operating finger on pilot valve 89, the latter is opened which permits passage of air through flexible tubing 93, to T-connection 94 and thence through tubing 95 to air cylinder 69 and through tubing 96 to the inlet port and chamber of pilot valve 71. As the air actuates the piston in cylinder 69, rack 64 progresses in the direction of arrow 66 turning turntable 61 in the direction of arrow 67 which causes the neck of bag 74 to be twisted thus shutting olf the open end of the bag which has been hermetically evacuated or filled with liquid as explained heretofore. At the end of its stroke, rack 64 causes valve trip 68 to depress the release button of pilot valve 71 so that air proceeds through tube 97 to actuate air cylinder 43 which has now been displaced along with the entire carriage assembly F to the position indicated by the dotted lines of FIGURE 3. Actuation of air cylinder 43 causes links 41 and 42 to rotate bag gathering arm 39, which has also advanced along with carriage assembly F to the dotted line position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, through arcuate motion indicated by are arrow 98. As the arcuate motion is completed, bag gathering arm 39 contacts the twisted neck of plastic bag 74, advances the latter between guide surfaces 31 into aperture 32, between the open jaws of the clip fastening mechanism, and the concave portion of a C-shaped clip that has been deposited on the surface of the base plate indicated at 28 and now advanced along with carriage indicated at F to its dotted line position seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. As the bag gathering arm terminates its arcuate path, it contacts the activating finger of pilot valve 33 which causes air to pass from four-way connection 86 through flexible tube lead 98, valve 33, three-way connection 85, flexible tube 95, and into large diameter air cylinder 26. As the air fills cylinder 26, push rod 16 is advanced relative to top plate 27 to cause the plunger portion of the jaw mechanism, referred to above and included generally at 36, to advance and squeeze the clip residing on the base plate indicated at 28. The squeezed clip closes about the closed and twisted neck portion of bag 74 to cause the inner or concave surface of the clip to contact the neck of the bag neck portion of bag 74 in a manner more fully described in the 2,977,600 patent. As the air pressure increases in air cylinder 26, pressure also begins to build up in bag cutter blade cylinder 37 which has been advanced along with the carriage at F to a position midway over turntable 61. Cylinder 37 is connected pneumatically in parallel with cylinder 26 .and advances blade 38 to sever the excess portion of the bag neck above the clip now closed about and sealing off said neck; the blade in closing is safely guided by blade guide 34. Bag 74 containing dressed fowl 73 or other contents having been bag sealed and prepared for further processing, the operator releases foot pedal 46c which causes air from supply line 50 to advance through line 99 to the opposite end of air cylinder 53 causing cylinder plunger rod 52 to retract in the direction of arrow 82b and cause the entire carriage portion F to proceed from the dotted line position of FIGURE 2 in the direction of arrow 83b to its initial position as shown in FIGURE 1 and the solid line outlines of FIGURE '3. The release of air valve 89 now relieved from contact with valve trip 91 causes the air supply to air cylinder 69 to shut off so that the ratchet connected thereto is returned to its starting position by means of a spring return within cylinder 69. This also releases air valve 71 which relaxes air distribution to air cylinder 43 and causes bag gathering arm 39 to return to its normal position by means of a spring return in air cylinder 43. Return of arm 39 releases air pilot valve 33 which shuts off air to air cylinder 37 and causes retraction of cutting blade 38. As the carriage assembly generally indicated at F returns to its starting position indicated by the solid lines in FIGURES 1 and 3, air cylinder 26 is completely evacuated by exhaust valve 101 as are the other air lines which terminate there from three-way connection 85 and line 95. At the very end of return movement along carriage support shafts 12, the carriage assembly conveys clip fastener air cylinder 26 to its furthermost position to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1 and shown by the solid lines of FIGURE 3. With the entire carriage assembly indicated at F now at its original position, sealed bag 73 and contents 74 may be freely moved to a next station away from turntable 61 without physical interference with the clip fastening device, magazine, hopper and supporting frame. Moreover, since the path of the sealed bag is cleared by movement of the aforementioned sealing device, unnecessary and difficult maneuvering of the bag and its contents to and from a bag clipping station is eliminated.

At this point, as explained above for the beginning of the operating cycle, push rod 16 is advanced in the direction of arrow 26b by means of a spring return within air cylinder 26 so that the rod retracts the additional distance indicated by the dimension 102. By so doing, rod 16 displaces reed 14 an equal distance to the right of its position as viewed in FIGURE 1 thus causing the bottom ends 13 of the clip magazine to be exposed and another C-shaped clip dropped into position between the jaws of the clip fastening mechanism just forward of the clip plunger of the base plate indicated at 28. Another unsealed bag and its contents may be received on turntable 61 and the entire process of air evacuating or liquid filling, twisting, sealing and trimming may be repeated.

Although the above specification has described my invention in some detail, this has been done for purposes of illustration and clarity of explanation, and it is understood that certain modifications may be practiced within the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the claims:

1. In a bag packaging machine for sealing a bag by means of a substantially C-shaped clip in a bag sealing region of the machine, said machine having a frame and magazine means mounted on said frame and terminated directly above a clip depositing region remote from the bag sealing region, said means to receive C-shaped clips in oriented position and discharge one clip at a time at the clip depositing region, the combination comprising: carriage imeans slida'bly horizontally mounted on said frame to receive each discharged clip in the clip depositing region of said machine and convey each discharged clip to the bag sealing region of the machine; driving means attached to said frame and said carriage means to propel said last means and clip deposited thereon from the clip depositing region to the bag sealing region of said machine and, after the sealing of a bag by means of the deposited clip, to propel the carriage means from the bag sealing region to the clip depositing region of the machine; bag twisting means mounted at the bag sealing region of said machine to twist and close the open end of a bag placed thereon prior to the sealing of the bag by means of the discharged clip; bag gathering means mounted adjacent said bag twisting means to place and hold the twisted and closed neck of a bag at the bag sealing position; clip closing means mounted on said carriage means to clamp a discharged clip about the twisted and closed portion of a bag placed and held by said bag gathering means with the carriage means in the bag sea'ling position; cutting means mounted on said carriage means to sever the open portion of the bag from the closed and sealed portion thereof; first sequencing means mounted on said frame and actuated by said carriage means in the bag sealing position to actuate said bag twisting means to a bag twisting position, and said first sequencing means actuated by the carriage means leaving the sealing position to actuate the bag twisting means to a start position; second sequencing means mounted adjacent to said bag twisting means and actuated by the bag twisting means in the bag twisting position to actuate said bag gathering means to a holding position, and said second sequencing means actuated by the bag twisting means leaving the bag twisting position to actuate said bag gathering means to a normal position; third sequencing means mounted adjacent to said bag gathering means and actuated by the bag gathering means in the holding position to actuate, first, said clip closing means and, second, said cutting means, and said third sequencing means actuated by said bag gathering means leaving the closed position to deactuate said clip closing means and said cutting means, said clip closing means being disposed to cause a clip to be discharged from said magazine means when said clip closing means is deactuated and said carriage means propelled to the clip receiving position.

2. In a bag packaging machine for sealing a bag by means of a substantially C-shaped clip in a bag sealing region of the machine, said machine having a frame and magazine means mounted on said "frame and terminated directly above a clip depositing region remote from the bag sealing region, said means to receive C-sh-aped clips in oriented position and discharge one clip at a time at the clip depositing region, the combination comprising: carriage means slidably horizontally mounted on said frame to receive each discharged clip in the clip depositing region of said machine and convey each discharged clip to the bag sealing region of the machine; driving means attached to said frame and said carriage means to propel said last means and clip deposited thereon from the clip depositing region to the bag sealing region of said machine and, after the sealing of a bag by means of the deposited clip, to propel the carriage means from the bag sealing region to the clip depositing region of the machine; a turntable for supporting a bag to be sealed; means mounted adjacent to said frame to rotatably support said turntable at an elevation to cause the twisted neck of a bag to be sealed by said clip closing means, said last means being in the plane of said frame and carriage means; rotating means mounted adjacent to said turntable and in contact therewith to turn the table and twist the neck of the bag placed thereon with the uppermost portion of the bag neck held fixed in respect to said turntable, said rotating means actuated with said carriage means in said bag sealing position; bag gathering means mounted adjacent said bag twisting means to place and hold the twisted and closed neck of a bag at the bag sealing position; clip closing means mounted on said carriage means to clamp a discharged clip about the twisted and closed portion of a bag placed and held by said bag gathering means with the carriage means in the bag sealing position; triggering means mounted on said carriage means and responsive to said rotating means to cause said clip closing means to close a clip about the neck of a twisted bag after said rotating means is actuated; and cutting means mounted on said carriage means to sever the open portion of the bag from the closed and sealed portion thereof.

3. In a bag sealing apparatus of the type having a vertically disposed clip magazine provided with a lower open end for dispensing C-shaped clips stacked therein; a carriage means mounting the carriage for movement along a path adapted to extend transversely to, beneath and in proximity to said lower open end of said magazine; means coupled with said carriage for moving the same along said path from a first position to a second position and return; closable jaw means carried by said carriage for closing a clip about the neck of a bag to seal the latter when the carriage is in said second position and when the bag is disposed adjacent to said second position, said jaw means normally being open and being disposed on said carriage to receive a clip from said magazine when said carriage is in said first position; means independent of said moving means and coupled with said jaw means for closing the latter after said carriage has moved into said second position, whereby a clip received by said jaw means will be closed about the neck of a bag adjacent to said second position; means coupled with said moving means and said closing means for sequencing the operation of the same; a turntable adjacent to said second position for supporting a bag to be sealed; and means coupled with said turntable for rotating the same as the upper end of the bag is held stationary to cause the bag to be closed by twisting its neck, said sequencing means being coupled to said turntable rotating means for actuating the latter in response to the positioning of said carriage relative to the turntable.

4. In bag sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein is provided shiftab'le means responsive to the rotation of said turntable for advancing the twisted neck of a bag into said jaw means.

5. In bag sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sequencing means includes structure responsive to the movement of said shiftable means for actuating said closing means to thereby close said jaw means after the neck of a bag has been moved thereinto.

6. In bag sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein is included a shiftable blade mounted on said carriage adjacent to said jaw means, and actuatable means coupled with said blade for shifting the same in a direction to cut the neck of a bag in said jaw means, said sequencing means including structure being coupled with said blade shifting means for actuating the same after the neck of a bag has been moved into said jaw means.

7. In bag sealing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein is provided a vertically disposed vacuum conduit having a lower open end spaced above and aligned with said turntable, said conduit adapted to be inserted into the neck of a bag to be sealed and to be engaged by said bag neck to cause the neck to be twisted as the turntable is rotated, said lower open end of the conduit being positioned to align the twisted neck of a bag with said jaw means.

8, In a bag sealing apparatus of the type having a vertically disposed clip magazine provided with a lower open end for dispensing Oshaped clips stacked therein: a carriage; means mounting the carriage for movement along a path adapted to extend transversely to, beneath and in proximity to said lower open end of said magazine; means coupled with said carriage for moving the same along said path from a first position to a second position and return; closable jaw means carried by said carriage for closing a clip about the neck of a bag to seal the latter when the carriage is in said second position and when the bag is disposed adjacent to said second position, said jaw means normally being open and being disposed on said carriage to receive a clip from said magazine when said carriage is in said first position; means independent of said moving means and coupled with said jaw means for closing the latter after said carriage has moved into said second position, whereby a clip received by said jaw means will be closed about the neck of a bag adjacent to said second position; means coupled with said moving means and said closing means for sequencing the operation of the same; a turntable adjacent to said second position for supporting a bag to be sealed; means coupled with said turntable for rotating the same; a vacuum conduit having a lower open end spaced above and aligned with the turntable for evacuating a bag disposed on the turntable when the neck of the bag is held about the conduit and the lower open end thereof is within the bag, said turntable being movable through an arc sufficient to twist the bag neck to cause the neck to be closed with the contents in a sealed condition; means mounted on said carriage adjacent to said jaw means for advancing the twisted neck of a bag into the jaw means after said carriage has moved into said second position; and blade means mounted on said carriage adjacent to said jaw means for cutting the bag neck after the latter has been moved into said jaw means, said sequencing means including first structure responsive to the movement of said advancing means for actuating said closing means to thereby close said jaw means after the neck of the bag has been moved thereinto, and second structure coupled with said blade means for actuating the latter after the bag neck has been moved into said jaw means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,265,277 12/1941 Gerke 29243.57 2,792,679 5/1957 Maickel 53138 2,866,975 1/1959 Ine 29-243.57 2,907,494 10/1959 Inc et al. 221-156 2,977,600 4/1961 Inc et a1 29-24357 3,094,825 6/1963 Bracey et a1. 53--112 FOREIGN PATENTS 370,005 7/ 1963 Switzerland.

TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

